Bad Leadership Behaviors in Professional Development | The Edu20/20 Podcast | Episode 24

Edu20/20

August 11, 2026

What happens when the leaders in the room are the ones making PD harder? In this After Hours episode, Courtney and Shannon unpack the leadership behaviors that derail professional development — sitting on the sidelines, dominating the mic, mixed messages — and what the best leaders do differently.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

What happens when the leaders in the room are the ones making professional development harder?

In this After Hours episode, Courtney and Shannon unpack the leadership behaviors that can derail even great PD, from sitting on the sidelines to mixed messages between leaders, and what the best leaders do differently.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome back to After Hours
02:08 Bad leadership behaviors in professional development
04:22 Leaders sitting on the sidelines during PD
05:59 When a district leader won’t stop talking
09:17 When leadership isn’t on the same page
14:04 How mixed messages impact teachers
15:08 What great leaders do differently

Your Next Listen

Keep building your coaching skills.

What’s Next

Real change in your classroom starts here.

  • Smiling educator holds up a copy of The Tier One Curriculum Trap during a professional learning session as participants work together at tables.
  • Edu20/20 team member supports two educators as they review training materials together during a professional learning session.
  • Educator reviews a printed curriculum lesson and takes notes during a professional learning session.
  • Presenter speaks into a microphone and gestures to attendees during a professional learning session.
  • Two educators raise their hands and laugh during an interactive professional learning session as other participants sit at tables around them.
  • Edu20/20 presenter speaks into a microphone while addressing educators during a professional learning session.
  • Four educators smile together in front of an Edu20/20 backdrop during a professional learning event.
  • Presenter smiles while hugging an attendee at a professional learning event.
  • Two educators review an Edu20/20 instructional profile worksheet together during a professional learning session.
  • Edu20/20 presenter smiles while talking with two educators during a professional learning event.
  • Edu20/20 team member smiles while hugging an attendee at an education conference booth.
  • Group of educators collaborate around a table, reviewing notes and adding ideas to a large chart during a professional learning session.
  • Edu20/20 team member smiles while speaking with attendees at an education conference booth.
  • Two educators collaborate at a table, organizing pink sticky notes on a planning template during a professional learning session.
  • Two educators laugh together while working with sticky notes on a planning template during a professional learning session.
  • Four educators smile for a group photo at the end of an Edu20/20 professional learning session.
  • Edu20/20 team member laughs while talking with two educators seated at a table during a professional learning session.
  • Two Edu20/20 team members smile for a photo with an educator in a school library.